First ladies call for peaceful resolution of conflicts

African first ladies on Tuesday appealed to the continent's political leaders to show more commitment to "non-violent options in the resolution of political conflicts", PANA reported. In a 15-point declaration issued at the end of a two-day meeting in Abuja, they also drew attention to the "misery and deprivation of refugees and displaced persons" created by the many conflicts on the continent. The meeting was attended by the first ladies of Chad, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda, who appealed for greater responsiveness by governments, the international community, NGOs and people of goodwill "to help assuage the sufferings of this class of people", PANA added. The first ladies also underlined the importance of "promoting fundamental human rights and democracy as means of creating peaceful and viable societies", PANA said.